@DG how so? Most likely it will be superseded by the next Xbox so unless MS are going to allow some sort of upgrade path (not likely) or make the X the base for next gen (possible given the idea of a "family" of devices) getting an X to future proof does not seem like a good idea.

Feature

Ranking The Resident Evil Games (From Worst to Best)

Resident Evil is the most prolific horror series in gaming history. The vast library of titles – which changes mechanics more often than a change of underwear – proves its versatility in remaining ahead of the curve while simultaneously paving the curve itself. While the series has mostly delivered good to amazing titles, this is one franchise not without its fair share of bad eggs too. Today, we’re going to attempt to rank the Resident Evil games from worst to best, with the exception of a couple of spin-off titles like Mercenaries 3-D or Outbreak File #2, which was basically a glorified expansion. So in the words of a YouTuber named Phillip DeFranco, let’s just jump into it (never thought I’d ever associate DeFranco with Resident Evil, but here we are in 2019).

17. Umbrella Corps

I wouldn’t even consider this a Resident Evil game to begin with, but it still carries the mantle proudly for some reason – and confusingly tries to be a greatest hits collection without any of the actual hits. Touted as a multiplayer online shooter eyeing the eSports scene (wtf), Umbrella Corps failed abysmally in almost every aspect because it simply wasn’t Resident Evil. Capcom should count their blessings that they unveiled Resident Evil 7: Biohazard shortly before this released, otherwise it would’ve sunk the franchise forever.

16. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

Another confusing, contrived mess of a “Resident Evil” entry, Operation Raccoon City threw horror (you know, the thing that built the franchise) out the window in favour of the growing interest in online co-op shooters at the time, as well as class-based shooting. Sadly, this game never succeeded in being a compelling co-op shooter or a remotely inventive class-based shooter. Instead, it felt like the worst of the Mercenaries mode with less polish. The sad thing is that the gameplay isn’t inherently bad – it’s just an uneven package with bad ideas.

15. Resident Evil Survivor

Our writer, Vittorio Leonardi, already tore Resident Evil Survivor to shreds. I highly recommend you read his NostalgiaView for a better understanding of how terrible this game really is. Survivor felt like an afterthought in trying to capitalize on the early success days of Resident Evil, yet failed to understand what made it so successful to begin with. Terrible shooting, terrible AI, terrible glitches, and extra-terrible graphics cemented this as the definition of the hard “skip” of the franchise.

14. Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles

Nintendo Wii wanted to cash in on the Resident Evil property when they pushed The Umbrella Chronicles out. Many might agree that it isn’t the worst that the franchise has ever seen, with some even going as far as calling it one of their favourites. However, my experience with The Umbrella Chronicles was filled with frustration and the constant fight against the clunky motion controls of the Wii. There are plenty of clever thrills that complement the motion controls, but it’s hard to recommend to any die-hard fan above a casual (and preferably drunken) playthrough.

13. Resident Evil 6

I’ll be the first to admit that my hatred, disgust and resentment towards Resident Evil 6 has died down since release, but that hasn’t excused it for all of its misfires. Resident Evil 6, in all its multi-story glory, promised a collision between titans; our favourite characters in the series, notably Leon and Chris, finally trading blows. What we instead got was a 10-second sparring match and a plethora of explosions as well as nonsensical action to make Michael Bay blush. Yes, it’s still in a playable state and does have cool set pieces, but Capcom boldly ditched “survival horror” thinking there’d be no repercussions.

12. Resident Evil Outbreak

Resident Evil Outbreak is unfortunately included in the haziest parts of my childhood, but I do fondly remember enjoying all that it had to offer. Plenty of nights were lost to this game as our group of friends huddled around the television in the wee hours of the morning. Sadly, it didn’t leave much of an impression like other Resident Evil titles at the time, and as I became older, Outbreak slipped further and further from memory. I might revisit it someday, but this marks the perfect transition into the rest of the list which includes the better titles of the franchise.

11. Resident Evil Revelations 2

The first Revelations game was (and I do sincerely apologize in advance for this pun) a revelation. The series was going through a bit of an identity crisis at the time, so it was a breath of fresh air that the Revelations games came along to inject that bit of horror needed to get the series back on track and please the die-hard fans. Granted, Revelations 2 wasn’t nearly as big of a deal as its predecessor, but it did carry with it that monumental shift into more horror-focused action. With a surprisingly decent story to boot, Revelations 2 managed to proudly stand out.

10. Resident Evil 5

Between Chris Redfield angrily punching boulders to the setting of Africa being a touchy controversial subject, Resident Evil 5 somehow turned out to be a decent, and at times excellent, mainline entry. Being the successor to Resident Evil 4 was always going to be a tall order, but Resident Evil 5 held its own. Despite shifting gears into more action-centric territory, the game did manage to squeeze plenty of suspense, dread, and imaginative creature designs out of its divisively wonky plot. The only thing we ask is that you play this co-op with a friend, because the AI for Sheva is still utterly broken and idiotic.

9. Resident Evil Zero

Resident Evil Zero, as the title implies, is a prequel to the 2002 Resident Evil remake, which would technically then be the first game, but Capcom thought it would make more sense for it to be a prequel to the remake of the original, which isn’t actually the true sequel. Confusing chronology aside, Zero continued the tradition of more diverse locations first introduced in Nemesis. Following best girl Rebecca Chambers and escaped convict Billy Coen, Zero pins its timeline on the peak of the outbreak. This was the first time that players could control both main characters at the click of a button, using both their special abilities to solve puzzles and battle its awesome variety of monsters. Ironically, Zero was also the swan song of the classic Resident Evil mechanics before the series shifted to its third-person over-the-shoulder perspective. If you’re following the story of the series, then Zero should be on your list.

8. Resident Evil Revelations

Capcom once thought it would be a good idea to set a Resident Evil game on The Love Boat. They were right. Revelations brought the series back to its roots in many ways while still splicing the old and new mechanics in creative ways. Jill Valentine returned to the forefront of the series and showed that she could still do fisticuffs with the legions of undead. Revelations’ best aspects were its intense, near-perfect gameplay and white-knuckle scenarios that still haunt me to this day. If you were a fan of either the old or new Resident Evil identity, Revelations had you covered. It’s a pity that they didn’t realize the pleasing power of this game as Resident Evil 6 arrived, arms outstretched, to ruin the party that same year.

7. Resident Evil – Code: Veronica

It was around this time that Resident Evil showed signs of ditching its survival horror roots for more over-the-top action. Code: Veronica pioneered everything we love to laugh at about the Resident Evil games, including physics-defying action and its trademark quirk. Somehow, it became etched into the series’ identity. It never took itself seriously while trying to tell a serious story (that wasn’t written seriously to begin with), but I can tell you now: it damn well worked. Code: Veronica is hands down one of the most entertaining entries in the franchise to date. It’s as if Capcom and filmmaker Paul W.S. Anderson brought their minds together, but trimmed the fat to make pure digital bliss.

6. Resident Evil (1996)

It might be strange to see the Resident Evil game that started it all out of the top 5, but allow me to explain (and while I explain, I urge you to continue reading in Barry Burton’s terrible voice acting). The original Resident Evil title is a landmark in gaming; a genre-defining release that made history. It single-handedly spearheaded survival horror into the mainstream conscious, and delivered something so bold, so incredibly unique that it spawned decades of copycats. Resident Evil was tense, thrilling, and horrifying in all the right ways… but I’ll be damned if I could put it any higher on this list due to the voice acting and corny dialogue. Then again, it did give me one of my favourite catch phrases with "Jill Sandwich"...

5. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

After the huge success of the first two Resident Evil games, Capcom had to make a legacy with its third ambitious title. Players would remember the original Resident Evil trilogy for years to come if they managed to get this one right, and thankfully, they did. Nemesis was a resounding success and a natural evolution of its predecessors. While the previous two titles were confined to single locations, Nemesis was the first time that we took to Raccoon City at large to witness the effects of the outbreak in the public eye. Taking on the role of a young, tube-topped Jill Valentine, Nemesis stuck to its fixed camera angles and more methodical gameplay, but greatly succeeded in showcasing the devastating effects of the T-virus. On top of that, Jill was relentlessly pursued by the iconic BOW, Nemesis, who has since become one of gaming’s most ruthless baddies.

4. Resident Evil (2002 Remake)

Remember when I said the original game suffered from horrendous voice acting and corny dialogue? Well, that was all fixed with the 2002 remake, so I’m more comfortable placing it higher up on the list as the clearly superior option (and the one I recommend playing when you get into the series above the original). The remake still featured fixed camera angles, but its visual polish and refined gameplay mechanics fully realized the game for its mastery in the survival horror genre. It could’ve easily been higher on the list, but I’ve chosen to give the spotlight to the games that reinvented the wheel for horror as we know it. However, this 2002 remake is absolutely flawless, and a must-play for any fan and newcomer.

3. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

When Resident Evil 7: Biohazard was first revealed (amidst the booming run-and-hide horror sub-genre sweeping the market), many feared that it would be playing it too closely to the likes of Outlast or Amnesia. This couldn’t have been further from the truth, as the game was infused with the DNA of the Resident Evil series – and more. It helped that Capcom boldly tackled a first-person perspective, which made for one of the most terrifying video games I’ve ever played, and easily the scariest in the whole series. You weren’t entirely defenseless either, as the game threw weapons your way constantly, giving it that classic Resident Evil feel while also being a relentless, heart-pounding descent into a family’s murderous intent and their supernatural madness. It’s still sad that many gamers dismissed it and haven’t given this near-masterpiece a chance yet.

2. Resident Evil 2

How do you follow up with a sequel to a certified classic in the horror genre? Capcom’s idea was simple: just make a better game. Resident Evil 2 exceeded expectations upon release, quickly topping Game of the Year lists and being called the greatest survival horror game ever made. Players took on the role of Korean boyband hairstylist/rookie police officer, Leon S. Kennedy, on the cusp of the T-virus outbreak in Raccoon City. Cooped up in Raccoon City Police Station, Leon, along with Claire Redfield, have to survive an onslaught of the undead while trying to unravel a deeper mystery. Oh, and there’s a giant zombie alligator somewhere. Resident Evil 2 laid the foundation of all survival horror games to come, only slightly beaten out by another entry in its own franchise…

1. Resident Evil 4

Resident Evil 4 is a masterpiece. ‘Nuff said. Actually, there’s a lot more to be said but I think I’ve exceeded the word limit on this article. We assume the role of a more seasoned, hardboiled Leon once again (still rocking that K-pop haircut), this time on a secret mission to rescue the president’s daughter from crazed villagers on a Spanish island. Capcom’s decision to steer the series in a more action-centric direction here paid off because it bolstered the horror in some intense ways. Yes, you had a few more bullets, but the enemies were a lot more relentless and didn’t hesitate to give you a very hard time. Couple that with some superb boss fights and you had a Resident Evil game for the ages. No game has come close to dethroning the king of the survival horror genre since (well, Dead Space made a pretty admirable attempt), and it remains Capcom’s magnum opus of the franchise.

There you have it! All 17 Resident Evil entries ranked from worst to best. If you liked the article, make sure to leave a like and comment below what your favourite Resident Evil games were. Stay tuned as we count down to the highly anticipated Resident Evil 2 remake with plenty of upcoming features, news, and exciting video content.